My story dealing with several horrible entitled “railbirds” in GA at Wrigley 2

OceansJenny

bbiggs said:

MayDay10 said:

I see the same (several) people on rail at most/every show.  Its a sickness

Wonder if the band gets tired of seeing the same faces. I would. 

Yes. Ed made a comment in the 03 tour, something to the extent of “I see the same faces up front every show, go home and have sex with your wives.”

Edit: it was ‘06

This is what Ed said at Albany '06...

"...why do I see the same faces right here every show...shouldn't you guys be out getting laid?" 

pearldavidson

buck502000 said:

I am going to pour a drink before reading this thread........

Lol yes

OceansJenny

Shakescky said:

pashapasaman said:

What sickens me is that i see the same people front row every show. What is the goal actually?? So that they can shake eddie’s hand?
the sound is way better if you are at the back actually
i’ve been in rail once in madrid
wasn’t my best experience, and i experience similar stuff like in this post. People fighting for spots
lame

for some people it has become less about the music and more about super fan recognition. sadly this happens with all fan bases within bands. and if you haven't seen it for another band you enjoy, it's definitely out there.

That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Fan recognition? I wouldn’t recognize any of those railrats from squat. I’m trying to watch the BAND.

Happy to show up 1 hr prior for GA and be 5 rows back. The rats can have fun with their rail and imaginary celebrity.

darwinstheory

buck502000 said:

I am going to pour a drink before reading this thread........

You're going to need two more when you're done.

ZeldaZonk

pjl44 said:

Team All Reserved Seating 2019


DITTO!

Zod

OceansJenny said:

Happy to show up 1 hr prior for GA and be 5 rows back. The rats can have fun with their rail and imaginary celebrity.

That's how it was in Arena's?  With Wrigley '16 and Seattle '18, with the bigger pits, I found we were about 10-12 people deep being in front of mike's (or stones) mic, but getting in the lineup about 4pm.  4 hours of waiting around (between waiting for doors, and waiting for the band)

It was easier with Arena's because the pits were so much smaller.  Could show u at doors and get 5th or 6th row.

I must be getting old.  I'll always for GA because reserved's start behind GA, thus even the back of GA is better than any seat.   However if given the choice to go back to the old system of all seats.   I might lean towards to the seats to avoid dealing with the lineups

Big Bank Hank

For some people Eddie tossing them a tambourine or giving them some wine or touching them, is like the biggest deal ever, and they will still be telling stories about it 25 years from now. I don't care about any of that, more power to them if they are willingto invest all that time & energy. I am totally cool with lower reserve side stage, plus it's really nice having a seat & cupholder  plus easy bathroom access once Even Flow starts playing. Pearl Jam catching a shot of me on the rail during a show & posting the video later really won't make any difference in my life. Now if I happen to run into one of them in some random place & just be able to hang out & talk about ways to make the world a better place, real deep shit, that would be meaningful. Icon worship is a illusion, human to human interaction & finding ways to become better humans is where it's at. Besides Eddie has already played 3 requests for me from this board over the past 5 years, so I already feel kinda guilty about that, so I figure it's better to let others go up front with their signs & maybe they can get a song played or a shoutout & that will be a much more meaningful experience than it would be for me. I see the world through a rocking horse of time. Those people up front at the Seattle show earned it, lining up 4 days before in 90 degree heat, it's totally not worth it for me, plus when you get trying to muscle themselves in & cutting in front & just being down right disrespectful it can make for a really long night. I do have one question: If you are center rail, how in the hell do you take a piss? Empty bottle? Port a Potty? It seems like it would be really hard to get back the where you were before.

thispureamericanriot

F Me In The Brain said:

You should be able to stay where you are.

Anyone who tries to tell you differently is being a cockhead.

That being stated...I would likely have moved back as well.  As much as I would hate it, enjoying the show is the most important thing.If some bag of entitled shit is going to do everything they can to fuck with you, it is not worth it.

I am on Team All Reserved Seating as well -- and not because I would not like GA, it is more to give the bird to people like the ones you describe. 

You cannot just take anything you want and then clap when Pearl Jam speaks about the causes that they speak about. 

My new favorite words: "cockhead" and "bag of entitled shit". I will seriously be using these in my everyday speech now. LOL

Mikusxkm

For all of you that had to deal with the rude and disrespectful people in GA I am sorry. I unfortunately or fortunately, however you want to look at it, usually get pretty good seats at most events. I’m handicapped and could not stand up for a 20 minuet line let alone a 3 hr concert. Seattle second night and Chicago 1st night were my first PJ concerts. I’m was PJ concert newbie, they were AMAZING, life altering and I could go on and on!
Handicaped seating in both Chicago and Seattle were somewhat “seat yourself wherever”, despite numbered seats. I’m not complaining at all. What a great, open, happy group of about 20 each night. I’m a bit bossy as my tall husband (Chicago trip) and my fairly short daughter (Seattle trip) can confirm. We had people in wheelchairs and walkers and usually their companion. When everyone took their places it was obvious (both nights) that some people in wheelchairs were not going to easily see the band, even with my husband seated. So being bossy I kind of started rearranging the people around us. At first they all said no, I am ok, I am here and can kinda see them and can hear them. I finally just scooted mysel and husband behind a couple of people and their companions. My husband had a chair to sit in, and did. When he wanted to stand he went to the back. Seeing this, many companions did the same. So with some gentle suggestions and offers to move around I think everyone single person in our small section had an awesome view. Was I in the “front, center row”? I was not. I was actually in the back row, but I am pretty tall and seat height in a walker is a couple inches higher than a wheelch, or the actual seats. 
By the time the concerts were amping up we all knew most everyone’s names and had started telling our PJ stories or our stories that land us in the gimpy section. We bought beers for each other, sang loudly and had an amazing good time. None of us really cared about the seat numbers on tickets. We wanted to make damn sure that everyone had the best possible view for their circumstances.
I’m not suggesting you become handicapped so you get decent seats to events. Obviously our lives can make everyday things difficult, but you try and make the most of a situation. I made friends and had 2 awesome trips with the highlight of seeing the best band ever. 
Thank you to the kind, generous and fun people who only enhanced the concert and of course thank you Pearl Jam for being you, best band EVER, kind and their incredible generosity to so many worthy causes. These may be my only PJ concerts (I certainly hope not) so I will think positively and remember how am incredibly grateful for the music I heard and the people I met in both cities. Everyone was so very kind and wonderful. So thanks to Seattle and Chicago, you have some great citizens.
Perhaps at your next big event remember that each one of you can choose the high road and regardless of your physical view of a concert, or whatever event, your kindness will make your experience much much better. 

Brisk.

What did these people look like? Americans?

Sorry I don't like to read epic walls of text.

DirtyFrankAndBeans

Brisk. said:

What did these people look like? Americans?

Sorry I don't like to read epic walls of text.

I won’t forget what all 3 of these people look like and I will be scanning the front of the GA line at my next show.  The rudest woman on the rail was American dark hair early 30s she was with the dude I’ve seen a lot long blonde curly hair coming out of his hat.  The next lady was close in age she was Hispanic.  The biggest D-bag was early 40s white guy real nerdy looking with glasses bragging about his 300 bootlegs he owns.   

DirtyFrankAndBeans

Thanks for all the comments and seems like a lot of you guys have had similar experiences with these type of people.  I was hoping this thread would bring 1 or 2 of them on here to apologize to me maybe this time!  But very doubtful these evil little goats will admit to acting the way they did!   If anything maybe this will expose them and they won’t act like that at the next show

derbydave

Mikusxkm said:

For all of you that had to deal with the rude and disrespectful people in GA I am sorry. I unfortunately or fortunately, however you want to look at it, usually get pretty good seats at most events. I’m handicapped and could not stand up for a 20 minuet line let alone a 3 hr concert. Seattle second night and Chicago 1st night were my first PJ concerts. I’m was PJ concert newbie, they were AMAZING, life altering and I could go on and on!
Handicaped seating in both Chicago and Seattle were somewhat “seat yourself wherever”, despite numbered seats. I’m not complaining at all. What a great, open, happy group of about 20 each night. I’m a bit bossy as my tall husband (Chicago trip) and my fairly short daughter (Seattle trip) can confirm. We had people in wheelchairs and walkers and usually their companion. When everyone took their places it was obvious (both nights) that some people in wheelchairs were not going to easily see the band, even with my husband seated. So being bossy I kind of started rearranging the people around us. At first they all said no, I am ok, I am here and can kinda see them and can hear them. I finally just scooted mysel and husband behind a couple of people and their companions. My husband had a chair to sit in, and did. When he wanted to stand he went to the back. Seeing this, many companions did the same. So with some gentle suggestions and offers to move around I think everyone single person in our small section had an awesome view. Was I in the “front, center row”? I was not. I was actually in the back row, but I am pretty tall and seat height in a walker is a couple inches higher than a wheelch, or the actual seats. 
By the time the concerts were amping up we all knew most everyone’s names and had started telling our PJ stories or our stories that land us in the gimpy section. We bought beers for each other, sang loudly and had an amazing good time. None of us really cared about the seat numbers on tickets. We wanted to make damn sure that everyone had the best possible view for their circumstances.
I’m not suggesting you become handicapped so you get decent seats to events. Obviously our lives can make everyday things difficult, but you try and make the most of a situation. I made friends and had 2 awesome trips with the highlight of seeing the best band ever. 
Thank you to the kind, generous and fun people who only enhanced the concert and of course thank you Pearl Jam for being you, best band EVER, kind and their incredible generosity to so many worthy causes. These may be my only PJ concerts (I certainly hope not) so I will think positively and remember how am incredibly grateful for the music I heard and the people I met in both cities. Everyone was so very kind and wonderful. So thanks to Seattle and Chicago, you have some great citizens.
Perhaps at your next big event remember that each one of you can choose the high road and regardless of your physical view of a concert, or whatever event, your kindness will make your experience much much better. 

One of the best first posts I've ever read...
Welcome to the PJ boards!!
So happy to hear you had a GREAT show...
and I love your "Take Charge" attitude!!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience.

DirtyFrankAndBeans

derbydave said:

Mikusxkm said:

For all of you that had to deal with the rude and disrespectful people in GA I am sorry. I unfortunately or fortunately, however you want to look at it, usually get pretty good seats at most events. I’m handicapped and could not stand up for a 20 minuet line let alone a 3 hr concert. Seattle second night and Chicago 1st night were my first PJ concerts. I’m was PJ concert newbie, they were AMAZING, life altering and I could go on and on!
Handicaped seating in both Chicago and Seattle were somewhat “seat yourself wherever”, despite numbered seats. I’m not complaining at all. What a great, open, happy group of about 20 each night. I’m a bit bossy as my tall husband (Chicago trip) and my fairly short daughter (Seattle trip) can confirm. We had people in wheelchairs and walkers and usually their companion. When everyone took their places it was obvious (both nights) that some people in wheelchairs were not going to easily see the band, even with my husband seated. So being bossy I kind of started rearranging the people around us. At first they all said no, I am ok, I am here and can kinda see them and can hear them. I finally just scooted mysel and husband behind a couple of people and their companions. My husband had a chair to sit in, and did. When he wanted to stand he went to the back. Seeing this, many companions did the same. So with some gentle suggestions and offers to move around I think everyone single person in our small section had an awesome view. Was I in the “front, center row”? I was not. I was actually in the back row, but I am pretty tall and seat height in a walker is a couple inches higher than a wheelch, or the actual seats. 
By the time the concerts were amping up we all knew most everyone’s names and had started telling our PJ stories or our stories that land us in the gimpy section. We bought beers for each other, sang loudly and had an amazing good time. None of us really cared about the seat numbers on tickets. We wanted to make damn sure that everyone had the best possible view for their circumstances.
I’m not suggesting you become handicapped so you get decent seats to events. Obviously our lives can make everyday things difficult, but you try and make the most of a situation. I made friends and had 2 awesome trips with the highlight of seeing the best band ever. 
Thank you to the kind, generous and fun people who only enhanced the concert and of course thank you Pearl Jam for being you, best band EVER, kind and their incredible generosity to so many worthy causes. These may be my only PJ concerts (I certainly hope not) so I will think positively and remember how am incredibly grateful for the music I heard and the people I met in both cities. Everyone was so very kind and wonderful. So thanks to Seattle and Chicago, you have some great citizens.
Perhaps at your next big event remember that each one of you can choose the high road and regardless of your physical view of a concert, or whatever event, your kindness will make your experience much much better. 

One of the best first posts I've ever read...
Welcome to the PJ boards!!
So happy to hear you had a GREAT show...
and I love your "Take Charge" attitude!!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience.

I agree!!!  So awesome!!  It’s fans like this that keep me coming back after experiences like I had!  99% of all PJ fans I’ve met have been great people all around!!   Won’t let a few bad apples ruin our tight community!

Wma31394

Moshing and body surfing solves all these problems..keep moving and there would be no assigned standing areas..

100 Pacer

darwinstheory said:

bbiggs said:

MayDay10 said:

I see the same (several) people on rail at most/every show.  Its a sickness

Wonder if the band gets tired of seeing the same faces. I would. 

No. They don't. These crazies start the lines days in advance. That kind of shit gets publicity. No such thing as bad pub.

Then Ed mad a point of getting the Rizzo Jersey on night 1 to the Release guy from Let's Play Two. And they made a point of showing the old Aussie dude from LPT several times. Think these guys aren't going to go for rail every time? 

When we walked out of Wrigley after the 1st show we noticed the Aussie you mentioned was already at the front of the GA line for the 2nd show forming across from Murphy’s under the L train. We just didn’t get it.

Tully305

Fuck that noise. You’re on the rail.  Refuse to move. Throw hands if necessary. We’ve all been fans for 25 years, nobody’s more special than the other

Dr. Delight

DirtyFrankAndBeans said:

Brisk. said:

What did these people look like? Americans?

Sorry I don't like to read epic walls of text.

I won’t forget what all 3 of these people look like and I will be scanning the front of the GA line at my next show.  The rudest woman on the rail was American dark hair early 30s she was with the dude I’ve seen a lot long blonde curly hair coming out of his hat.  The next lady was close in age she was Hispanic.  The biggest D-bag was early 40s white guy real nerdy looking with glasses bragging about his 300 bootlegs he owns.   

Holy shit, this is funny.

Happy Julio

GA Rail people seem like aholes

tempo_n_groove

Something I noticed for the Seattle shows and the Missoula show was much less crowd interaction from the band from the previous 16 tour.  I wonder if that's because they aren't arenas?

The reason you wanted rail (i'm guessing) was that you might be able to drink some wine, snag a tambourine or guitar pick and maybe a sweatband from Matt and Jeff or maybe just get a little face time with a band member.

Those 3 shows I saw very little of that.  Unless your an 8 yo you aren't getting a tambourine, no more wine in the crowd(Vedder gave that sex and beer couple some beers though), Mike usually showers the crowd w picks but didn't so much this time.  The band was previously very interactive with the crowd but not so much for these shows.

So maybe rail isn't what it used to be?